GoKawiilHugging Face launches $400 duck-shaped bipedal robot Microduck
Hugging Face has released Microduck, a roughly 10-inch bipedal robot shaped like a duck that costs $400. It packs 15 motors, a camera, a depth sensor and two inertial measurement units, plus an articulated beak for picking up objects, and ships with built-in behaviors like walking, sitting, crouching and skating that can be triggered via gamepad. It's the company's second robot after Reachy Mini, and its software stack is open-source, letting developers teach it new skills through reinforcement learning and simulation.
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By wrapping robotics and AI hardware in a friendly, toy-like design, Hugging Face is trying to soften public wariness toward AI while still offering a serious open-source platform for researchers and hobbyists. Cheap, hackable robots like this could widen access to embodied AI experimentation beyond well-funded labs.
- Microduck costs $400 and stands about 10 inches tall with 15 motors, a camera and depth sensor.
- It comes with preloaded behaviors like walking and skating, controllable via gamepad, plus an open-source stack for custom reinforcement learning.
- It's Hugging Face's second robot after Reachy Mini, signaling a broader push into accessible robotics platforms.
8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller — Microduck can be driven around with a gamepad, and the 8BitDo Ultimate is a great fit thanks to its Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless modes plus a charging dock that keeps it ready to go. Remappable buttons and software profiles also make it handy for tinkering with custom robot controls.
See 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-08-27
Published there as: “This duck-shaped robot is almost cute enough to make you forget its AI”
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